Match Preview
27.11.20
HSV hunt return to form in Heidenheim
Hamburger SV make the trip down to Heidenheim an der Brenz on Sunday (kick-off 1:30pm) and the Voith-Arena, where Frank Schmidt’s team are unbeaten in 13 months.
A seven-game unbeaten start to the season suddenly became a three-game winless streak after the 3-1 loss last Sunday to VfL Bochum at the Volksparkstadion for HSV. The Rothosen’s task doesn’t get any easier as they seek out an improved performance on Sunday, 1. FC Heidenheim proving to be something of a bogey team for Hamburg since their return to the 2. Bundesliga. The team from the river Elbe are also on a three-game winless run against the team from the river Brenz, and looking to banish the memories of the agonising last-minute defeat to Heidenheim on the penultimate matchday in June. Frank Schmidt’s men have made a slow start to the season but are a force to be reckoned with at the Voith-Arena, unbeaten since October 2019 at home.
Focus on the hosts
The 2019/20 season was the culmination of 13 seasons’ work for 46-year-old Schmidt, who has taken 1. FC Heidenheim from the Oberliga (fifth tier) to the cusp of the Bundesliga, laying the foundations for the club on and off the pitch. Whilst heartbreaking for HSV, the 2-1 victory on Matchday 33 in June saw the Brenzstädter leapfrog their visitors into the relegation play-off spot, a position they wouldn’t relinquish. This resulted in a two-legged match-up with Werder Bremen for a spot in the first division, only denied by away goals after a 0-0 draw at the Weserstadion and 2-2 draw at the Voith-Arena.
After cruelly missing out on the promised land, the summer in Heidenheim saw a number of key players depart the club, most notably Niklas Dorsch and Tim Kleindienst to KAA Gent. The re-build has been reflected in the results, Heidenheim not flying out of the traps as expected and needing an amount of time for the squad to gel and the new players to get up to speed with Schmidt’s philosophy. FCH sit in twelfth position on nine points going into Sunday’s clash after a variable start to the campaign, but are unbeaten in two having defeated Würzburger Kickers before the international break and fought back from two goals down to draw in Kiel last Saturday.
Opposition scouting report
As Daniel Thioune noted in Friday’s pre-match press conference, “Heidenheim are a team who always run themselves into the ground and threaten over the whole 90 minutes. Their way of playing is intense and we’ll have to show the necessary resistance to their philosophy under Schmidt.” The 46-year-old has clearly done his homework, Heidenheim having covered the most distance over the first eight matchdays in the division with 962km, followed in second place by their visitors on Sunday with 938km. The Rothosen have struggled to get into their passing rhythm over the last three games when pressed high up the pitch, so may look for other solutions against a team that will hassle and harry them.
Schmidt’s team themselves have struggled for goals, four of their twelve strikes coming in their last home game against bottom-of-the-table Würzburg. Summer signing Christian Kühlwetter had big boots to fill in the shape of the departing Tim Kleindienst but has settled into life quickly in Baden-Württemberg, scoring five and assisting three in his first eight appearances in the red and white of Heidenheim. Exciting youngster Kevin Sessa, a Heidenheim academy graduate, has broken into the squad this season playing in a variety of positions, a hallmark of Schmidt’s side being their tactical flexibility, something the Rothosen will have to be aware of on Sunday.
Dudziak a doubt as squad rotation possible
Daniel Thioune himself is no stranger to unexpected selection choices and tactical variations, and will be looking to change things up and spark an improved performance on Sunday after a lacklustre showing against Bochum, particularly when in possession. “I don’t make tactical adjustments just for the sake of it,” the 46-year-old added on Friday, “but I will select the eleven who I think can best disrupt the Heidenheim style of play. If that means a change in formation or personnel, then so be it.” The HSV coaching staff may have to do without Jeremy Dudziak, who sustained heavy bruising on his left ankle after an overzealous challenge from Bochum’s Danny Blum on Sunday, and received another knock to the same ankle in training on Wednesday, having to sit out some of the session. Aaron Hunt also sustained a knock in training but it is thought it won’t be enough to keep the 34-year-old out of the squad for Sunday. The three-game winless run has seen the Rothosen’s lead at the top of the table trimmed down to two points by Greuther Fürth, but will hope to get back on track in Baden-Württemberg and exact a certain amount of revenge for the loss at the end of June.
Matchday facts
As touched on previously, Heidenheim are unbeaten at home since their 3-2 loss to Bochum on the 6th October 2019, almost 14 months ago. 11 wins and 5 draws have followed, a 16-game run that is naturally a club record and the longest such run of any current team in the league.
A statistic more in the visitors’ favour is FCH’s record against table-toppers. In their time in the 2. Liga, Frank Schmidt’s team have faced the league leaders 15 times, only winning once and losing on eight occasions.
Heidenheim have scored seven goals after the 75th minute, unsurprisingly the most of any team in the league.
Where can I watch the game?
U.K., Ireland: BT Sport 3
Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden: Viaplay, TV3 Max
Netherlands: Fox Sports 4
Portugal: Eleven Sports 6
Czech Republic, Slovakia: Digi Sport 2
Hungary: Sport 1 Hungary
Israel: Charlton Sport 4
Turkey: S Sport 2
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela: OneFootball